Second blaze in less than two months at village pub

Joshua Askew
BBC News, South East
Eddie Mitchell Fire engines surround a rural pub that looks scarred from fire. Eddie Mitchell
Five fire engines responded to Friday's blaze

A village pub near Chichester has caught fire for the second time in less than two months.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said five fire engines, one water carrier and one ladder platform responded to a blaze at the Gribble Inn pub in Oving on Friday.

They said the flames were put out just after 19:00 BST, but urged nearby residents to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke.

Crews continue to remain at the site, the fire service added.

Eddie Mitchell Firefighters in a metal crane work on the charred remains of a pub roof. Eddie Mitchell
Firefighters extinguished the blaze early on Friday evening

It comes after a fire at the pub, which has a thatched roof, at the end of February.

That blaze was likened to a "raging inferno" by Greg Hughes, a sous chef at the Gribble Inn.

Ten fire engines were deployed to the scene at that time, while the high street was temporarily closed.

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